THEO 204 - 001

Regular Academic Session

3288

Undergraduate

3 units

Graded Alpha

Prerequisites: THEO 100, THEO 107, or equivalent; please check requirements for declared majors/minors for exceptions.

Advances in technology and industry confront us with unprecedented abilities for altering long standing climate patterns. These capacities challenge many traditional religious and ethical assumptions about humanity and our relationship to the nonhuman world. We will examine the resources that religious traditions of the world offer for promoting ecological responsibility.

Outcomes: students will be able to:*Summarize relevant history related to scientific, policy & political data and decisions *Describe central scientific and ethical challenges posed by the climate crisis *Relate key ideas, traditions, & practices in Christian theological, philosophical, and other religious thought that may help address this crisis

Tier 2 Theological Knowledge
Bioethics
Catholic Studies
Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies

This course explores what a fully human, integral response to the current ecological crisis looks like--a response that is objective and pragmatic but also moral and meaningful. Each of these responses--the objective (science), the pragmatic (action), the moral (ethics), and the meaningful (spirituality)--are constitutive aspects of human life. The more we are aware of these dimensions of our lives (and the entire natural world), the better we can respond to the current ecological crisis with effectiveness and hope. Many religions support and enrich the scientific, ethical, spiritual, and action-oriented guidance people need to become integral ecologists. Examples of such support are works by Indigenous botanist Robin Kimmerer and Roman Catholic Pope Francis. Significant, too, are insights by 'non-religious' environmentalists who nevertheless identify a spirituality in their lives and the natural world that is essential to their work. Examples of their writings include Aldo Leopold, Evelyn Tucker, and Brian Swimme. The works of the above five authors are centerpieces for the course. Class procedure varies between instructor lectures, student discussions, video screenings, and guest presentations. In all, the purpose is to educate and encourage each of us to pursue a fully human, integral response to today's ecological crisis.

Michael Schuck

Mo 4:15PM - 6:45PM

01/13/2025 - 04/26/2025

In person

Lake Shore Campus

Lake Shore Campus

Closed

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